Abstract
Parental influences on children’s ethnic
identity among middle-income Korean-American
families (N = 52), including fathers, mothers, and their children were
examined. The sample was comprised of 23 boys and 29 girls (M = 7
years and 3 months) and their parents. Mothers and fathers were asked to respond independently to a
parent's ethnic identity questionnaire; children were interviewed using a children’s ethnic identity questionnaire. Results revealed the most important predictors of children’s ethnic identity
were parental teaching behaviors regarding Korean culture and history. Among the three domains in children’s ethnic identity, Korean
language fluency was most affected by
parental ethnic identity variables. Results
indicated that mothers and fathers generally
share the same attitudes toward ethnic matters; thus, it was concluded that
children receive a congruent ethnic message
from their parents.
